Wayne Hauge of Ray hopes to raise the first 100 acres as an experiment to monitor how well the crop grows in varying soil types and conditions. He is interested in the oil seed variety.
Industrial hemp is a cousin of marijuana, and the hemp is non-narcotic and does not induce a chemical high. It is not a mind-altering substance. Hemp is used in multiple products, including clothing, lotion cosmetics, jewelry and paper.
For those considering growing hemp, be prepared to go under the microscope of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.
Federally, Hauge is required to pay a license fee of $2,293. That is non-refundable even if the DEA does not grant the license. It must be paid annually. At the state level, he must pay a fee of $5 per acre for the amount to be seeded to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.
“The DEA does not recognize the word ‘hemp,'” Hauge said. “It's classified as marijuana. There is no distinction on the federal level between hemp and marijuana.”
North Dakota Ag Commissioner Roger Johnson is scheduled this week to personally request the DEA waive the fees for the federal hemp license and waive the cost-prohibitive requirements to grow the plant.
“They are too restrictive at this point,” Hauge said.
Laws for growing hemp have many stipulations which fall under DEA regulations. These include a 10-foot chain link fence, 4 feet of razor wire and 24-hour surveillance over the entire area planted. That could prove very expensive even for the mere 100 acres pilot plot that Hauge wants to research.
He found obtaining the licensing a detailed endeavor. “You must identify the land, provide the GPS (global positioning satellite) coordinates and provide a set of fingerprints to be run by the FBI for background checks,” said Hauge. “Anyone who handles the plant must be fingerprinted on a file with the FBI,” Hauge said. “That includes grain handlers.”
Still, Hauge credits Rep. Dave Monson, R - Osnabrock for getting legislation in North Dakota passed to grow the product. “He has gotten it this far,” Hauge related.
He said the crop should prove ideal for a rotational crop on many levels.
He said Canada is the closest source for obtaining hemp seed. Johnson is requesting that DEA work with the North Dakota State University to oversee industrial hemp being grown in North Dakota. “The whole thing has been a cart before the horse. Requesting a waiver, and then inquiring about different seeds,” Hauge said.
“Roger Johnson took my check and David Monson's check to the head of the DEA to request waiver of that fee. He meets with the DEA Monday (today). He will ask for a waiver of that fee, and to work together with NDSU and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. There is no intent for the state to take over completely, but work on a cooperative basis,” Hauge said.
According to Hauge, hemp seeds can be used for protein powder, and hemp oil can be used in ready-to-eat food products.
“I'm interested in the oil varieties,” Hauge said. “It is highly beneficial for human consumption, it has oil similar to fish. It has a high protein. It is used for lotions and jewelry.”
With the new technology, there is a hemp plastic that can be molded or injected. Hemp fiber composites will be more popular as oil prices continue to increase.
The rope variety hemp can be found in multiple products such as upholstery in German-made BMWs, he was told
“It's used worldwide,” Hauge said. “There is an established market,”
“Oil varieties are shorter, 5 feet to 6 feet tall,” explained Hauge. “The fiber varieties can be 10 feet to 12 feet tall.”
“On the eastern part of state, we would potentially get 4 to 8 tons of fiber from an acre. It's phenomenal,” Hauge said.
“On this side of North Dakota, it would only produce 1 to 2 tons per acre, weather permitting in an average year.”
“There is a strong historical use of hemp,” he noted. “Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper. Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag with hemp material.”
Hauge confesses he gets some ribbing for his choice in a rotational crop in connection to its cousin, marijuana. “Bring it on. I've never smoked marijuana,” he said. “As a Ray EMT (emergency medical technician) for 18 years, I know what it smells like.”
“Seed has to be inspected to contain no more than .3 percent THC (Tetrahydrocarbabinol), he added. “Hemp has extremely low levels of THC,”
“It will be very closely monitored,” Hauge said.
“My purpose (ultimately) is to start a seed stock for future farmers in North Dakota and the United States.”
He said hemp's growing season is comparable to flax, starting in mid May and ending in early September. He said it depends on the variety.
“The appeal to me is to obtain a rotational crop that does not require chemicals. It takes care of weedy fields.”
His main concern with growing it is that it could wrap up in the internal parts of the bearings of the combine. “The fibers can wrap themselves around shafts and spin bearings out,” he said.
According to a report by the Associated Press, the North Dakota Department of Agriculture has sent out 16 other applications.
“I hope we do get an opportunity to grow hemp. I am not overly optimistic,” said Hauge. “It's taken eight years after the first time North Dakota approved growing hemp, and it's still not approved by the DEA.”
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